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Fishing Locations
Massachusetts fishing licenses and regulations for 2008
 Everyone age 15 and older is required to have a license to fish the freshwaters of Massachusetts. All fishing licenses are valid from January 1 to December 31. License costs are $27.50 for residents above age 17 and $11.50 for residents between age 15 and 17.
Non-resident fishing licenses cost $37.50 for a year. Three-day non-resident fishing licenses cost $23.50 for people above age 17 and $11.50 for people between the ages of 15 and 17. Licenses can be purchased online or at most town halls, the local bait shops and at designated retail stores.Anyone younger than 15 years old may fish in fresh waters without a license. More information at the state Department of Fish and Game website.
There is no license requirement for recreational saltwater angling, but a commercial permit is required if fish are to be sold. Recreational shellfishing is permitted in designated clean areas and regulated by the individual Towns. Contact the local town department of Natural Resources for local regulations. For saltwater fishing information, see the Division of Marine Fisheries website.
For more information contact the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife at 508-389-6300.
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Bash Bish Falls State Park
Route 41
Mount Washington, MA
Phone: 413-528-0330
This small, undeveloped park offers fishing and scenic hiking trails, featuring an 80-foot waterfall. This park is within the Mount Washington State Forest.
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Beartown State Forest
69 Bluehill Road
Monterey, MA 01245 
Phone: 413-528-0904
The forest has more than 10,000 acres of woodlands, featuring fishing, swimming, and picnic areas, in addition to hiking and cross-country ski trails. A public campground is available.
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Brimfield State Forest
Dean Pond Road
Brimfield, MA
Phone: 413-267-9687
Visitors to this forest will enjoy cross-country ski trails, fishing areas, swimming, and picnic spots.
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C.M. Gardner Park
Route 112
Huntington, MA
Phone: 413-354-6347
This small 29-acre park offers canoeing, fishing, and swimming areas. Riverside picnicking is available.
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Chester-Blandford State Forest
Route 20
Chester, MA
Phone: 413-354-6347
This state forest sits on more than 2,000 acres, and features fishing, picnicking, and a waterfall, in addition to trails for cross-country skiing and hiking. Public campgrounds are available.
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 Chesterfield Gorge
River Road
West Chesterfield, MA
Phone: 413-684-0148
Email: westregion@ttor.org
A natural wonder in the Berkshires, this site offers spectacular views with a trail that runs along the top of the gorge walls, plus picnic spots and areas for trout fishing.
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Chicopee Memorial State Park
Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA
Phone: 413-594-9416
Visitors will enjoy fishing and swimming areas, park biking, and cross-country skiing. Site was formerly known as the Cooley Brook Reservoir and Watershed.
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Clarksburg State Park
Middle Road
Clarksburg, MA
Phone: 413-664-8345
Park has areas for canoeing, swimming, fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and public camping. The park features Mauserts Pond and an unspoiled forest offering scenic views.
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Connecticut River Greenway State Park
Damon Road and Route 9
Northampton, MA
Phone: 413-586-8706, ext. 12
This park features canoeing, hiking trails, and picnic areas. Rest facilities are available. One of Massachusetts’ newest state parks.
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D.A.R. State Forest
Route 112
Goshen, MA 01032
Phone: 413-268-7098
This forest park offers swimming, canoeing, and fishing areas. Trails for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling are available. There is a public campground and regularly scheduled visitor programs are offered. Wheelchair-accessible campsites available.
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Erving State Forest
Route 2A
Erving, MA
Phone: 978-544-3939
Forest has swimming, canoeing, fishing, motorboating, and picnic areas. There are hiking and cross-country ski trails. Public campgrounds and scheduled programs are offered for visitors.
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Granville State Forest
323 West Hartland Road
Granville, MA 01034
Phone: 413-357-6611
This 2,397-acre forest along the Hubbard River has facilities for fishing, cross-country skiing, hiking, swimming, and picnicking. A public campground is available.
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Hampton Ponds
Route 202
Westfield, MA
Phone: 413-532-9385
This 42-acre park features water activities, such as swimming, fishing, canoeing, and motor boating. Rest facilities are available.
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Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest
Route 8A
Hawley, MA 01339
Phone: 413-339-5504
This 7,882-acre forest features programs for visitors, in addition to fishing, swimming, and picnic areas. There are snowmobiling, horse, hiking, and cross-country ski trails. A public campground is available.
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Lake Lorraine State Park
44 Lake Drive
Springfield, MA
Phone: 413-543-6628
This small two-acre park offers fishing and swimming on Lake Lorraine. There is a picnic area. It also is a regional boating safety-training center.
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Mohawk Trail State Forest
Route 2
Charlemont, MA 01339
Phone: 413-339-5504
Swimming, fishing, hiking, cross-country ski trails, and a public campground await visitors to this forest. There are six log cabins that can be reserved.
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Monroe State Forest
Tilda Hill Road
Monroe, MA
Phone: 413-339-5504
This park is ideal for fishing, hiking, and cross-country skiing. The park is known for its scenic beauty. A public campground is available.
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Mount Everett State Reservation
East Street
Mount Washington, MA
Phone: 413-528-0330
Enjoy canoeing, fishing, hiking, cross-country ski trails, and picnic areas. The park offers breathtaking views and is adjacent to the Appalachian Trail.
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Mount Tom State Reservation
Reservation Road
Holyoke, MA
Phone: 413-534-1186
Visitors to this reservation can enjoy canoeing, fishing, hiking, and picnic areas in the summertime, and cross-country skiing in the winter. One of New England’s best hawk watching spots.
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Mount Washington State Forest
East Street
Mount Washington, MA
Phone: 413-528-0330
This forest features fishing, picnic areas, and cross-country and hiking trails. There is a public campground. Bash Bish Falls part of the forest.
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Natural Bridge State Park
Route 8
North Adams, MA
Phone: 413-663-8469
The focal point of this park is a natural bridge, but visitors can also enjoy swimming, hiking, fishing, and cross-country skiing. Special events are scheduled, call for more information.
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October Mountain State Forest
Woodland Road
Lee, MA
Phone: 413-243-1778
The largest state forest in Massachusetts is more than 16,000 acres. It offers visitors canoeing, fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and a public campground with wheelchair accessible sites.
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Pittsfield State Forest
Cascade Street
Pittsfield, MA
Phone: 413-442-8992
A wheelchair-accessible trail highlights this 10,000-acre forest featuring swimming, canoeing, fishing, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Programs are scheduled year-round. Two public campgrounds/picnic areas are available.
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Robinson State Park
North Street
Agawam, MA
Phone: 413-786-2877
This 811-acre park offers visitors bike trails, fishing, swimming, picnic areas, hiking, and cross-country skiing. This urban park features a small logging demonstration area.
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Sandisfield State Forest
York Lake Street
Sandisfield, MA
Phone: 413-258-4774
This 7,785-acre forest offers fishing areas, canoeing, swimming, and picnic areas. There are trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. York Lake has a 300-foot sandy beach.
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Savoy Mountain State Forest
Central Shraft Road
Florida, MA
Phone: 413-663-8469
Visitors to this forest can enjoy a variety of activities, including swimming, canoeing, motor boating, fishing, hiking, and cross-country skiing. A public campground in an apple orchard is available.
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Tolland State Forest
Route 8
East Otis, MA
Phone: 413-269-6002
This 4,893-acre state forest offers camping, fishing, motor boating (with boat ramp), swimming, hiking, and cross-country ski trails. In season hunting is permitted.
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Wahconah State Park
Route 9/8A
Dalton, MA
Phone: 413-442-8992
A small park with areas for fishing and picnicking. There are hiking trails along Wahconah Brook leading to a scenic view of Wahconah Falls.
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Wendell State Park
Montague Road
Wendell, MA
Phone: 413-659-3797
Visitors will enjoy fishing, canoeing, swimming, and picnic areas in this 7,566-acre forest. In season, trails are open for hiking and cross-country skiing.
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Windsor State Forest
River Road
Windsor, MA
Phone: 413-663-8469
Visitors to this forest will enjoy swimming, fishing, and canoeing. Trails for hiking and cross-country skiing are available, in addition to a public campground. Hunters and snowmobilers are welcome.
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Hammond Pond Reservation
Hammond Pond Parkway
Newton, MA
Phone: 617-698-1802
Visitors to this small nature preserve can enjoy fishing, hiking and biking trails, and picnic areas.
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 Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: 617-223-8666
Email: Boha_information@nps.gov
This state park is part of the 34-island Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. The islands can be reached via a 45-minute ferry ride from downtown Boston. Islands offer shell and slate beaches. Lovells Island has a swimming beach. Bumpkin Island has slate and shell beaches.
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Castle Island Park
Day Boulevard
South Boston, MA
Phone: 617-727-5250
This historic site of Fort Independence is surrounded by a small park with Bike trails, fishing, and swimming areas.
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Charles River Reservation
Boston, MA
Phone: 617-698-1802
This natural refuge offers canoeing, hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and more. Interpretive programs are scheduled there throughout the year.
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Hopkinton State Park
Route 85
Hopkinton, MA 01748
Phone: 508-435-4303
Hopkinton State Park contains 1450 acres, offering many activities, including swimming. A group area that includes a pavilion, playing field, restrooms, picnic tables, and a large grill is available by reservation during the summer.
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 Rocky Woods
Hartford Street
Medfield, MA 02052
Phone: 508-785-0339
Email: seregion@ttor.org
Just 30 minutes from downtown Boston, Rocky Woods features over six miles of former woods roads and footpaths rambling through rolling hills of white pine and red oak. Explorers of the four ponds on the reservation may find bullfrogs and painted turtles, and visitors can enjoy catch-and-release fishing from these shores. Recent landscape renovations have created a scenic meadow, grassy common areas, sandy shorelines, and plantings of ornamental shrubs. Restrooms, picnic tables and a pavilion are onsite, and future plans include creating a visitor center and improved children's play area.
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Stony Brook Reservation
Turtle Pond Parkway
Hyde Park, MA
Phone: 617-361-6141
Sunfish and Perch await anglers in Turtle Pond at this 475-acre park and wildlife refuge, featuring fishing areas, biking and hiking trails, public swimming, and picnic areas. Programs are scheduled throughout the year.
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Weymouth Back River Reservation
Hingham, MA
Phone: 617-727-5293
Small reservation features historic areas and great fishing spots. Stodder's Neck provides harborside walking trails and a hilltop view of the Back River.
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Surf Fishing Access Locations
Surf fishing access locations on Cape Cod:
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Douglas State Forest
Wallum Lake Road
Douglas, MA
Phone: 508-476-7872
A 4,500-acre forest featuring canoeing, fishing, swimming, and picnic areas. Hiking and cross-country ski trails also are available.
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Dunn Pond State Park
Route 101
Gardner, MA
Phone: 508-632-7897
Visitors to this small park will enjoy recreation around the pond: canoeing, fishing, swimming, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Programs are scheduled at the park throughout the year. Rest facilities are available.
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Federated Women's Club State Forest
Route 122
Petersham, MA
Phone: 508-939-8962
This park features fishing areas, hiking, and cross-country skiing trails. Part of the forest is a 140-acre wildlife sanctuary. A public campground is available.
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James W. Brooks Woodland Preserve
Petersham, MA
Phone: 508-840-4446
Trails criss-cross the landscape of this preserve, which is ideal for bird-watching. Areas for fishing and cross-country skiing also are available.
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Lake Dennison State Park
Route 202
Winchendon, MA
Phone: 508-939-8962
More than 4,000 acres offers visitors swimming, canoeing, and fishing areas. Trails for hiking and cross-country skiing are available. There is a public campground.
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Leominster State Forest
Route 31
Leominster, MA
Phone: 508-874-2303
This park features spots for canoeing, swimming, fishing, hiking, and cross-country skiing. There also is a beach area. Late June, early July sees the mountain laurels bloom.
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Moore State Park
Route 31
Paxton, MA
Phone: 508-792-3969
Enjoy canoeing, fishing, swimming, and hiking and cross-country ski trails. This was the site of grist and saw mills from 1747 through the early 20th century.
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Otto River State Forest
Route 202
Baldwinville, MA
Phone: 508-939-8962
This 12,000-acre forest features programs for visitors, in addition to fishing, swimming, and picnic areas. There are hiking and cross-country ski trails. A public campground is available.
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Quabbin Reservoir
Route 9
Belchertown, MA
Phone: 413-323-7221
This artificially created reservoir has become a natural treasure-trove. Visitors can enjoy fishing, bird-watching, and an observation tower. Of particular interest are the eagles that nest in the area. There is an admission charge.
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Quinsigamond State Park
North Lake Avenue
Worcester, MA
Phone: 508-755-6880
This small park features lake swimming and fishing. There are also picnic areas and rest facilities available.
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Spencer State Forest
Howe Pond Road
Spencer, MA
Phone: 508-886-6333
Visitors to this state forest will enjoy fishing areas, canoeing, swimming, and cross-country skiing and hiking trails. Picnic areas are available.
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Streeter Point Recreation Area
Route 20
Sturbridge, MA
Phone: 508-347-9257 (winter)
This small 10-acre park offers hiking and cross-country trails, fishing areas, swimming, and picnic sites.
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Wachusett Reservoir
River Road
Clinton, MA
Phone: 978-365-3272
An artificial reservoir featuring bird watching, fishing areas, and walking trails. Ice fishing not allowed. There is an admission fee.
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Whitehall State Park
Route 135
Hopkinton, MA
Phone: 508-435-4303
Park has mountain biking, canoing/sailing, fishing, hiking on marked trails and motorboating. Scheduled programs are offered for visitors.
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Ashland State Park
Route 135
Ashland, MA 01748
Phone: 508-435-4303
Ashland State Park has 470 acres including the 157 acre Ashland Reservoir. The park provides areas for swimming, picnicking, boating, and fishing. There is wheelchair access to the boathouse and by ramp into the pond.
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Beaver Brook Reservation
Mill Street
Waltham, MA
Phone: 617-484-6357
Small nature preserve offers biking paths, fishing and swimming areas, interpretive programs, and small historic sites. Full toilet facilities are available.
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Cochituate State Park
Route 30
Natick, MA 01760
Phone: 508-653-9641
Cochituate State Park is a popular day park that offers boating, swimming, windsurfing, and fishing on its three large lakes. Picnicking, swimming, and boat launching are limited to the main area of the park on the middle lake.
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Rocky Woods
Hartford Street
Medfield, MA 02052
Phone: 508-785-0339
Email: seregion@ttor.org
Just 30 minutes from downtown Boston, Rocky Woods features over six miles of former woods roads and footpaths rambling through rolling hills of white pine and red oak. Explorers of the four ponds on the reservation may find bullfrogs and painted turtles, and visitors can enjoy catch-and-release fishing from these shores. Recent landscape renovations have created a scenic meadow, grassy common areas, sandy shorelines, and plantings of ornamental shrubs. Restrooms, picnic tables and a pavilion are onsite, and future plans include creating a visitor center and improved children's play area.
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Upton State Forest
Westboro Road
Upton, MA
Phone: 508-278-6486
Visitors to this state forest can find a fishing spot, eat in one of the designated picnic areas, or just take in the scenery.
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Walden Pond State Reservation
915 Walden St.
Concord, MA 01742
Phone: 978-369-3254
Henry David Thoreau’s life at Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847 provided the material for the book Walden. Because of this legacy, Walden Pond has been designated a National Historic Landmark. The reservation encompasses 400 acres, including a glacial kettle-hole pond. The area is popular for fishing, swimming, and walking. The number of visitors is limited to 1,000 people at a time. Visitors are encouraged to call the park in advance and check on parking availability. Floatation devices are prohibited.
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Bradley Palmer State Park
Asbury Street
Topsfield, MA
Phone: 508-887-5931
This park features trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. In addition, there is an area set aside for canoeing.
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Halibut Point State Park
Gott Avenue
Rockport, MA
Phone: 508-546-2997
Historic park set on the site of an old granite quarry. The park features fishing and swimming areas, along with hiking and cross-country ski trails. Of particular interest is the view from atop the granite bluff, from which visitors can see Maine on clear days.
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Harold Parker State Forest
1951 Turnpike St., Route 114
North Andover, MA 01845
Phone: 508-686-3391
Harold Parker State Forest, 20 miles north of Boston, comprises 3,000 acres of hardwood forest. Swimming at Berry Pond,which has a sand beach, a new wash house, changing rooms, and flush toilets. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day. Lifeguards are on duty 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Grills and picnic tables are available.
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Lawrence Heritage State Park
1 Jackson Street
Lawrence, MA
Phone: 508-794-1655
This historic park features fishing areas, hiking trails, and boating. Open 9 am-4 pm.
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Lowell Heritage State Park
500 Pawtucket Boulevard
Lowell, MA
Phone: 978-369-6312
Park features hiking and biking trails, cross-country skiing, swimming, picnic areas, and more.
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Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest
Trotting Park Road
Lowell, MA
Phone: 508-453-0592
This is a 1,150-acre park with swimming, canoeing, and fishing areas. Visitors can enjoy hiking and cross-country ski trails, in addition to seasonally scheduled programs.
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Maudslay State Park
Curzon Mill Road
Newburyport, MA
Phone: 978-465-7223
Park features trails for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. Programs are scheduled in season.
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Middlesex Falls Reservation
Woodland Road
Winchester, MA
Phone: 781-322-2851 or
Natural refuge set on over 2,000 acres. Visitors here can enjoy biking, hiking and cross-country ski trails. Canoeing, fishing, and swimming areas are offered, as well as a visitor's center with historic information.
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Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Beach Road, Route 1A
Salisbury, MA 01952
Phone: 508-462-4481
A popular ocean beach that extends 3.8 miles along the Atlantic Ocean, Salisbury beach is part of a 521-acre park that offers swimming, boating, and fishing. Facilities include a campground with bathhouses, parking lot, comfort stations, over-the-dune boardwalks, playground, and pavilion.
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Sandy Point State Reservation
Parker River Wildlife Refuge
Ipswich, MA
Phone: 508-462-4481
At the southern tip of Plum Island, this 77-acre park is among the state's most beautiful and popular coastal beaches for fishing and swimming. It also is a nesting area for the endangered piping plover.
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Ames Nowell State Park
Linwood Street
Abington, MA
Phone: 617-857-1336
Visitors to this park will enjoy hiking trails, cross-country skiing (in season), fishing, canoeing and picnic areas.
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Borderland State Park
Massapoag Avenue
North Easton, MA
Phone: 508-238-6566
1,772 acre park offers fishing areas, hiking, cross-country ski trails, full rest facilities and scheduled visitor programs.
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Demarest Lloyd State Park
Barney's Joy Road
Dartmouth, MA 02748
Phone: 508-636-8816 (winter)
Broad saltwater beach is backed by hills of beach grass and shaded picnic sites. Buzzards Bay surf is calm and shallow; temperatures are usually warm. Perfect for families with children. Open mid-May to mid-September, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends and holidays.
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Dighton Rock State Park
Bay View Road
Berkley, MA
Phone: 508-644-5522
Small park features canoeing and fishing, hiking and cross-country ski trails, and picnic areas.
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Ellisville Harbor State Park
Route 3A
Plymouth, MA
Phone: 508-866-2580
Just over 100 acres, this small park offers fishing areas, as well as hiking and cross-country ski trails.
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Freetown State Forest
Route 119
Ashby, MA
Phone: 508-597-8802
5,651 acres state forest features fishing, picnic areas and hiking and cross-country ski trails.
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Horseneck Beach State Reservation
Route 88 South
Westport, MA 02790
Phone: 508-636-8816
Located at the western end of Buzzards Bay, the sandy, two-mile-long beach is breezy all year, providing cooling temperatures and excellent wind surfing.
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Massasoit State Park
Middleboro Avenue
Taunton, MA
Phone: 508-822-7405
This 1,500 acre park features canoeing and boating areas, swimming and fishing. Hiking and cross-country ski trails are also available. There are picnic areas as well as a public campsite.
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Miles Standish State Forest
Long Pond Road
Carver, MA
Phone: 508-866-2580
Forest features 14,651 acres of camping, hiking and biking trails, cross-country skiing, canoeing, swimmiing, and fishing areas.
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Wompatuck State Park
Off Route 128
Hingham, MA
Phone: 617-749-7160
This state park cross-country, hiking and bike trails. Fishing areas and swimming are also available. There is a public campground with picnic and rest facilities.
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